Button Up!

March 2008

March 31, 2008

I think every woman likes a bit of glam; something to make her feel pretty. Sadly I have come to realize I am not a big jewelry person. My boys are still young and their tiny fingers always seem to wrap around necklaces and pull at the beads. I have actually had a couple broken and have watched the beads fly and scatter. Although I do not wear a lot of jewelry, I like simple pieces that are versatile. That is why I was excited when I was introduced to a new up and coming jewelry boutique, Kiki & Lele.

Created by friends Kacey Randolph and Leslee Phillips, the company is based on their shared love of jewelry. The pieces are fresh and inspiring. Each piece is handmade and can be personalized with your own special message. If you would rather not come up with something of your own, check out the lovely designs they feature on their blog. The messages are sweet and simple and most hand stamped tags can be adorned with a fresh water pearl charm. Kiki & Lele also have a beaded collection if you are more partial to that style.

I love mine and have found that I can wear it with just about anything and everything. It is delicate and a sweet reminder of my two rambunctious boys. I chose to have my sons initials stamped on the tag, along with a delicate charcoal fresh water pearl dangling beside it. It is quite lovely!

Kacey and Leslee not only design charming jewelry but have also decided to give back. Now each time you purchase a stunning piece you will know you are helping out in a small way.

"A major component to our company is our commitment to charity. A
portion of our annual proceeds will go to benefit our local Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit....In addition to the local charity that is close to our heart, we have
also made a commitment to buy products that benefit a charitable cause
to incorporate into our designs. Keep a look out for our designs that
feature Acholi beads. Refugees living in the Acholi Quarters slum in
Uganda make Acholi Beads. As they struggle to rebuild their lives, the
sale of Acholi Beads provides a vital income that supports their
families. These designs will be coming soon!"

Keeping in mind that Mother's Day is just around the corner, be sure to check out their lovely new collection focused on mothers and love. Happy shopping!

March 28, 2008

Thanks to all who participated in the rifferaff giveaway! Unfortunately I could only pick ONE winner and that lucky person is......Heidi Daniel, who said "You find the greatest stuff!!"Please contact me by 7am (CST) Monday, March 31st to claim your prize otherwise a new winner will be chosen.

Wishing you all a pleasant Friday and a relaxing weekend!! See you Monday for an awesome product review from a new up and coming jewelry boutique.

March 27, 2008

I want this print by binthe. Although I have no idea where I would put it. I seem to have a lot of "favorite" kid art. Maybe I will have to figure out a way to incorporate it when I move my boys into the same room.

My kitchen nook is in desperate need of a face lift. I thought new dining chairs and a new chandelier would be just the thing. I am drooling over this chair by Andrew Hollingsworth and thought this pendant from PB would compliment it nicely.

March 26, 2008

I have a thing for owls. And if you ever visit my house you will find an owl here or there amidst my decor. I just had my lovely and talented friend Lindsay produce an original piece for me to display in my bedroom. Most of her work is done digitally but I really really wanted something done by her very own hands. I love it Lindsay. The owls are quite at home perched upon my dresser.

:: Blog spotlight :: sheye rosemeyer photoblog. Trust me when I say you will want to read her story from the beginning. As a mother I could not help but ache in my heart for Sheye as she daily shares her story of love, loss and healing. Tonight I will hug my boys a little tighter and be grateful for every moment they are here with me.

March 25, 2008

As I have mentioned before, I have a small obsession with all things paper. Simply stated, I *heart* paper. As much as I love the digital world I would never and could never part with my love of paper. I get tickled each time I discover a new company with fabulous papers of all sorts. From note cards, to gift tags, to gift wrap, I love it all. I especially love original + unique + simple designs that can not be found just anywhere. The less mainstream, the better!

Rifferaff is a fabulous etsy shop focused on silkscreened printed papers. The designs and patterns are fresh + modern. Shannon just started expanding her product line to include folded note cards and I LOVE it. The color combinations are simple enough that the gift wrap can be used for any occasion!

"Rifferaff printed papers are silkscreened by hand onto 19 x 25 sheets
of 70# text weight paper; flexible enough to wrap a variety of packages
and durable enough for use in craft projects such as cardmaking and
scrapbooking.

Rifferaff is committed to small scale, local, and eco-friendly production. All paper is from French Paper, a family-run paper mill in Michigan run on hydroelectric power. All papers contain 100% recycled content. All inks used are water-based and most colors are hand-mixed. Every piece is hand pulled, trimmed, and packaged by me.
Because I am involved in every step of the production process, waste is
kept to a minimum. Screenprinted sheets that aren't suitable for gift
wrap are cut down and reused for other projects."

Not only are her prices affordable and her products stunning, they are also environmental friendly. Truly a winning combination!!

Shannon was lovely enough to include in this giveaway a gift wrap set & a note card set in green and yellow! {The gift wrap will be folded flat for shipping purposes}. If you are similar to me and love paper just follow the simple giveaway rules and enter to win.

Giveaway Rules:*enter a comment on this post [including your name + email address + blog address]*please enter only once*will ship internationally*contest expires Thursday, March 27th at midnight (CST)*one random winner will be announced Friday, March 28th*the winner has 48 hours to claim his/her prize or a new winner will be chosen

March 24, 2008

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. I had a lovely weekend spending time with family and eating one too many of these! Hubby is taking work off today so I get to have a relaxing Monday for a change. Be back tomorrow with more of my favorites!

March 21, 2008

I hate when I get a rust ring in my sparkling shower from the shaving cream can. Simple solution! Swipe clear nail polish on all the metal parts of the can and presto, no more rust! Oh and just in case you were wondering, I love the aveeno therapeutic shave gel. It is fragrance-free, which means hubby will use it too!

My husband would probably say I am borderline obsessive when it comes to eyebrows. I personally think eyebrows can really define your face in a good or not so good way. Some women are blessed with beautiful brows and others need a little help. I love to get mine waxed once a month and then pluck them myself for upkeep. My brows need a little fill-in where I have sadly over plucked from my teenage years. I love the eyebrow pencil and brow definer by Laura Mercier. If you are not a fan of a brow pencil that needs to be sharpened check out Mac, I like their eyebrow pencil too.